Centralized femtocell optimization

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for centrally optimizing femtocells are presented herein. A scanning component can receive information from femtocells indicating respective operating conditions of the femtocells. Further, an optimization component can categorize the femtocells into groups based on the information, and direct a change of a parameter set of a group of the groups to a femtocell of the group. A method can include receiving, from femtocells, information associated with respective operating conditions of the femtocells; sorting the femtocells into groups based on the information; and directing a change of a parameter set that is associated with a group of the groups to a femtocell of the group. In an example, the method can further include directing a change of a parameter of a macrocell communicatively coupled to a femtocell of the femtocells.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to centralized femtocell optimizationin wireless communication environments.

BACKGROUND

Wireless devices, e.g., cellular based devices, are ubiquitous.Moreover, demand for cellular services in areas where such services maybe limited, e.g., residential or small business environments, hasincreased. Accordingly, a small cellular base station, e.g., femtocell,coupled to a wireless service provider's network via a broadbandconnection, can be located in such environments to improve wirelessservice capacity and/or coverage.

However, as increased amounts of femtocells are integrated into abroader cellular network to improve wireless service capacity and/orcoverage, conventional techniques cannot adequately optimize tens,hundreds, thousands, etc. of femtocells included within a sector of amacrocell.

The above-described deficiencies of today's wireless communicationnetworks and related technologies are merely intended to provide anoverview of some of the problems of conventional technology, and are notintended to be exhaustive, representative, or always applicable. Otherproblems with the state of the art, and corresponding benefits of someof the various non-limiting embodiments described herein, may becomefurther apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

SUMMARY

A simplified summary is provided herein to help enable a basic orgeneral understanding of various aspects of illustrative, non-limitingembodiments that follow in the more detailed description and theaccompanying drawings. This summary is not intended, however, as anextensive or exhaustive overview. Instead, the sole purpose of thissummary is to present some concepts related to some illustrativenon-limiting embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the moredetailed description of the various embodiments that follow. It willalso be appreciated that the detailed description may include additionalor alternative embodiments beyond those described in this summary.

In accordance with one or more embodiments and corresponding disclosure,various non-limiting aspects are described in connection with groupingfemtocells into categories for centralized optimization of suchfemtocells.

For instance, a method can include receiving, from femtocells,information associated with respective operating conditions of thefemtocells. In one example, the information can be received from thefemtocells across multiple wireless network environments (e.g., a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM) wireless environment, a UniversalMobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) wireless environment, a Long TermEvolution (LTE™) wireless environment, code division multiple access(CDMA), etc.), across multiple wireless network service providers,across multiple frequency bands and/or communication channels, etc. Inanother example, the information can indicate a result of a network scanperformed by a femtocell, e.g., indicating macrocell neighbor(s)surrounding the femtocell, indicating power level(s) of signal(s)received from the macrocell neighbor(s), indicating interferenceassociated with such sign(s), etc.

Further, the method can include sorting the femtocells into groups offemtocells based on the information, for example, utilizing a respectivesorting criteria, e.g., utilizing a first level of categorization. Inone example, the first level of categorization can be based on therespective operating conditions of the femtocells, e.g., power level(s)of signal(s) received from macrocell neighbor(s) of the femtocells,interference associated with such signals, etc. In another embodiment,the sorting the femtocells into the groups based on the respectivesorting criteria further includes sorting the femtocells into the groupsutilizing a second level of categorization, e.g., based on uplinkmeasurement(s) associated with respective mobile stations, or userequipment (UE), communicatively coupled to femtocell(s) of a group ofthe groups of femtocells; based on a count of non-white listed mobilestation(s) that attempted to register with the femtocell(s) of thegroup, etc. Additional levels of categorization may be available inaccordance with example embodiments.

Furthermore, the method can include directing a change of a parameterset, e.g., including parameter(s) common to the femtocell(s) of thegroup, to the femtocell(s) of the group, e.g., based on operatingcondition(s) that are common to the femtocell(s) of the group. In oneexample, a change of a transmission power, a change of handoverrequirement(s), a selection of a wireless communication channel, etc.can be directed to the femtocell(s) of the group. As such, large numberof femtocells can be effectively optimized in a centralized manner,e.g., to improve associated wireless customer experience(s).

In yet another embodiment, the method can include directing a change ofa parameter of a macrocell communicatively coupled to the femtocell(s)of the group, e.g., based on the operating condition(s) that are commonto the femtocell(s) of the group. For example, the change of theparameter of the macrocell can be associated with signal(s) transmittedby the macrocell, a direction of propagation of the signal(s) (e.g.,controlled via a tilt, or downtilt, of an antenna of the macrocell),etc.

In one non-limiting implementation, a scanning component can receiveinformation from femtocells indicating respective operating conditionsof the femtocells. Further, an optimization component can categorize, orsort, the femtocells into groups based on the information, e.g.,utilizing respective sorting criteria, and direct, to a femtocell of agroup of the groups, a change of a parameter set of the group.

In an embodiment, the information can indicate a result of a networkscan that is associated with a femtocell of the group, the femtocells,etc., e.g., indicating macrocell neighbor(s) discovered by, orcommunicatively coupled to, the femtocell. In another embodiment, theinformation can indicate a strength of a signal detected by thefemtocell. In yet another embodiment, the respective sorting criteriacan be based on an operating condition of the respective operatingconditions, for example, based on the result of the network scan, e.g.,the result indicating the strength of signal(s) detected, or received,by the femtocell of the femtocells, a received signal code power of acommunication channel, e.g., a pilot channel, etc. that is associatedwith a macrocell that is communicatively coupled to, or neighboring, thefemtocell, a level of interference of the signal(s) detected by thefemtocell of the femtocells, a number of mobile stations, or UEs,communicatively coupled to the femtocell of the femtocells, a period oftime, or busy hour, associated with a maximum traffic load of thefemtocell of the femtocells, a location of the femtocell of thefemtocells, a number of non-whitelisted UEs that attempted to registerwith the femtocell of the femtocells, etc.

In yet another embodiment, the parameter set of the group of the groupscan include parameter(s) indicating, for the femtocell, a transmissionpower, a handover requirement (or information), etc.

In one embodiment, the optimization component can include a macrocellcomponent configured to direct a change of an operating parameter of amacrocell, e.g., which can be communicatively coupled to the femtocell,for example, based on the operation condition of the respectiveoperating conditions.

In another non-limiting implementation, a feedback component can directanother change, or second change, of the parameter set of the group offemtocells and/or the operating parameter of the macrocell based onother information that is received, via the scanning component, from thefemtocells.

In yet another non-limiting implementation, a method can includereceiving information from femtocells. Further, the method can includecategorizing, or sorting, the femtocells into categories based on theinformation. Furthermore, the method can include directing, to afemtocell of a category of the categories, a change of a parameter thatis associated with the category.

In one embodiment, the categorizing includes categorizing the femtocellsinto the categories based on a quality of a signal that is associatedwith the femtocell of the group, the femtocells, etc.

Other embodiments and various non-limiting examples, scenarios, andimplementations are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various non-limiting embodiments are further described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network including a femto networkoptimization module (FeNOM) for centrally optimizing femtocells, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless environment including a FeNOM forcentrally optimizing femtocells, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates another wireless environment including a FeNOM forcentrally optimizing femtocells, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a FeNOM for centrally optimizing femtocells, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a FeNOM including a macrocell component for centrallyoptimizing femtocells, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a FeNOM including a feedback component for centrallyoptimizing femtocells, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate illustrative processes according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a femto access point, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a wireless network environment,in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram representing an illustrative non-limitingcomputing system or operating environment in which one or more aspectsof various embodiments described herein can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As indicated in the background, conventional wireless technologies donot adequately optimize femtocells included within a sector of amacrocell. In consideration of these and other deficiencies of theconventional technologies, the subject matter disclosed herein relatesto grouping femtocells into categories for centralized optimization ofsuch femtocells.

In one embodiment, a method can comprise receiving, from femtocells,information associated with respective operating conditions of thefemtocells; sorting the femtocells into groups based on the information;and directing a change of a parameter set that is associated with agroup of the groups to a femtocell of the group.

In another non-limiting implementation, a system can comprise a scanningcomponent configured to receive information from femtocells indicatingrespective operating conditions of the femtocells. Further, anoptimization component can categorize the femtocells into groups basedon the information, and direct a change of a parameter set of a group ofthe groups to a femtocell of the group.

In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is providedcomprising computer executable instructions that, in response toexecution, cause a computing device to perform operations. Theoperations can include receiving information from femtocells;categorizing the femtocells into categories based on the information;and directing a change of a parameter of femtocells of a category of thecategories to the femtocells of the category.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that the techniques describedherein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, orwith other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or “anembodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment can beincluded in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase“in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined and/or distributed in any suitablemanner in one or more embodiments.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system,”“interface,” and the like, are intended to refer to a computer-relatedentity, hardware, software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. Forexample, a component can be a processor, a process running on aprocessor, an object, an executable, a program, a storage device, and/ora computer. By way of illustration, an application running on a serverand the server can be a component. One or more components can residewithin a process, and a component can be localized on one computerand/or distributed between two or more computers.

Further, these components can execute from various computer readablemedia having various data structures and computer-executableinstructions stored thereon. The components can communicate via localand/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having oneor more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting withanother component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across anetwork, e.g., the Internet, with other systems via the signal).

As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specificfunctionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric orelectronic circuitry; the electric or electronic circuitry can beoperated by a software application or a firmware application executed byone or more processors; the one or more processors can be internal orexternal to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts; the electroniccomponents can include one or more processors therein to executesoftware and/or firmware that confer(s), at least in part, thefunctionality of the electronic components. In an aspect, a componentcan emulate an electronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., withina cloud computing system.

The word “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” can be used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance ofdoubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by suchexamples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as“exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meantto preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that theterms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used ineither the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intendedto be inclusive—in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an opentransition word—without precluding any additional or other elements.

Artificial intelligence based systems, e.g., utilizing explicitly and/orimplicitly trained classifiers, can be employed in connection withperforming inference and/or probabilistic determinations and/orstatistical-based determinations as in accordance with one or moreaspects of the disclosed subject matter as described herein. Forexample, an artificial intelligence system can be used, via optimizationcomponent 420 (described below) to automatically categorize femtocellsinto groups based on respective sorting criteria and direct, to afemtocell of a group of the groups, a change of a parameter set of thegroup.

As used herein, the term “infer” or “inference” refers to the process ofreasoning about or inferring states of the system, environment, user,and/or intent from a set of observations as captured via events and/ordata. Captured data and events can include user data, device data,environment data, data from sensors, sensor data, application data,implicit data, explicit data, etc. Inference can be employed to identifya specific context or action, or can generate a probability distributionover states of interest based on a consideration of data and events, forexample.

Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inferenceresults in the construction of new events or actions from a set ofobserved events and/or stored event data, whether the events arecorrelated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and datacome from one or several event and data sources. Various classificationschemes and/or systems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks,expert systems, Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, and data fusionengines) can be employed in connection with performing automatic and/orinferred action in connection with the disclosed subject matter.

In addition, the disclosed subject matter can be implemented as amethod, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware,or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement thedisclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as usedherein encompasses in one or more embodiments a computer programaccessible from any computer-readable device, computer-readable carrier,or computer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media caninclude, but are not limited to, at least one of: a magnetic storagedevice, e.g., hard disk; a floppy disk; a magnetic strip; an opticaldisk (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital video disc (DVD), Blu-ray Disc™(BD)); a smart card; a flash memory device (e.g., card, stick, keydrive); and/or a virtual device that emulates a storage device and/orany of the above computer-readable media.

Moreover, terms like “user equipment” (UE), “mobile station”, “mobilesubscriber station”, “access terminal”, “terminal”, “handset”,“appliance”, “machine”, “wireless communication device”, “cellularphone” and similar terminology refer to a wireless device at least oneof (1) utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communicationservice to receive and/or convey data associated with voice, video,sound, and/or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream; or (2)utilized by a subscriber of a voice over internet protocol (VOIP)service that delivers voice communications over internet protocol (IP)networks such as the Internet or other packet-switched networks.Further, the foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably in the subjectspecification and related drawings.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer,”“agent,” “owner,” and the like are employed interchangeably throughoutthe subject specification and related drawings, unless context warrantsparticular distinction(s) among the terms. It should be appreciated thatsuch terms can refer to human entities, or automated componentssupported through artificial intelligence (see above), e.g., a capacityto make inference based on complex mathematical formalisms, that canprovide simulated vision, sound recognition, decision making, etc.

Also, the terms “local wireless communications cite,” “access point,”“base station,” and the like are utilized interchangeably throughout thesubject specification, and refer to devices that can receive andtransmit signal(s) from and to wireless devices through one or moreantennas. In addition, the terms “wireless network” and “network” areused interchangeably in the subject application, unless context warrantsparticular distinction(s) among the terms.

Aspects and/or features of the disclosed subject matter can be exploitedin substantially any wireless telecommunication or radio technology,e.g., wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi™); Bluetooth™, Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMAX™); Enhanced General Packet Radio Service(Enhanced GPRS); Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE™; ThirdGeneration Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2); Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB);3GPP UMTS; High Speed Packet Access (HSPA); High Speed Downlink PacketAccess (HSDPA); High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA); LTE™ Advanced(LTE-A), GSM, Near Field Communication (NFC), CDMA, Wibree, Zigbee, IEEE802.xx wireless technologies, Wi-Fi Direct™, etc.

Additionally, one or more embodiments described herein can includelegacy telecommunication technologies, e.g., plain old telephone service(POTS). Further, selections of a radio technology, or radio accesstechnology, can include second generation (2G), third generation (3G),and fourth generation (4G) evolution of the radio access technology;however, such selections are not intended as a limitation of thedisclosed subject matter and related aspects thereof. Further, aspectsand/or features of the disclosed subject matter can be exploited indifferent or disparate electromagnetic frequency bands. Moreover, one ormore embodiments described herein can be executed in one or more networkelements, such as a mobile wireless device, e.g., user equipment (UE),and/or within one or more elements of a network infrastructure, e.g.,radio network controller, wireless access point (AP), etc.

The subject disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus thatgroup femtocells into categories for centralized optimization of suchfemtocells in a wireless-based communication infrastructure. Femtocellsare wireless access points that can interface with a wired or wirelessbroadband network, usually use a licensed radio spectrum operated andcontrolled by a wireless service provider, and can be deployed toimprove indoor wireless coverage. Moreover, femtocells can reduceloading of over-the-air radio resources, e.g., radio frequency channels,etc. operated by the wireless service provider. User equipment (UE),e.g., a mobile wireless device, cell phone, wireless communicationsdevice, etc. can be operated by a subscriber of the wireless serviceprovider within a femto coverage area, or femto network including one ormore femtocells.

The UE can communicate with a core network, e.g., wired broadbandnetwork, via a femto access point (AP), or femtocell, utilizing a femtobased wireless protocol. The femto AP can employ a backhaul network,e.g., broadband wired network backbone, to route packet communication,e.g., voice traffic, data traffic, data, etc., to the core network. TheUE can register with the femto AP, and communication, such as voiceand/or data traffic, can be routed to the subscriber via the femto APutilizing the femto based wireless protocol. Further, the UE cancommunicate with the core network via a macro network that includes atleast one base station that can serve mobile wireless devices in outdoorlocations. Each base station can employ a backhaul network, e.g.,broadband wired or wireless network backbone, to route packetcommunication, e.g., voice traffic, data traffic, data, etc. to the corenetwork.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a wireless network 100 including a femtonetwork optimization module (FeNOM) 110 for categorizing, grouping, etc.femtocells into specific categories, or “buckets”, for optimizingfemtocell(s) matching a sorting criteria associated with of a categoryof such categories is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment.Wireless network 100 can include femto network 120 and macro network130. Macro network 130 can include at least one base station (not shown)that serves mobile wireless devices (not shown) in outdoor and/oroutdoor locations via a macrocell. The term “macrocell” refers to acoverage area, or geographical area, having a radius, e.g, of at leastone kilometer, for example, or less, e.g., if situated to serve an areaof high subscriber demand. The terms “microcell,” “picocell,” and“femtocell” refer to progressively smaller sized coverage areas.

While aspects and/or features of the subject disclosure are illustratedin relation to macrocells, macrocell access points, femtocells, andfemtocell access points, such aspects and/or features are alsoapplicable to, and can be implemented in: a microcell, or microcellaccess point; a picocell, or picocell access point; a Wi-Fi™ accesspoint; a WiMAX™ access point; a Bluetooth™ access point; otherwireless-based access points; or the like. Further, macro network 130can include a core network (not shown) comprising one or more cellulartechnologies, e.g., 3GPP UMTS, GSM, LTE™, etc. Each base station, oraccess point, of macro network 130 can communicate with the core networkvia a wired backbone link (not shown), e.g., optical fiber,twisted-pair, coaxial cable, licensed/unlicensed microwave link,free-space optical connection, etc.

Femto network 120 can include femtocells (not shown), which are wirelessaccess points that can interface with FeNOM 110 and macro network 130.It should be appreciated that although femto network 120 is illustratedin FIG. 1 as an entity distinct from macro network 130, one or morecomponents, features, e.g., hardware, software, etc. of femto network120 can be located/included within and/or across one or more locations,components, e.g., hardware, software, etc., of macro network 130. Forexample, one or more femtocells of femto network 120 can be locatedwithin a macrocell served by a base station of macro network 130.

Further, it should be appreciated that although FeNOM 110 is illustratedin FIG. 1 as an entity distinct from femto network 120 and macro network130, one or more components, e.g., hardware, software, etc. of FeNOM 110can be located/included within and/or across one or more locations,components, e.g., hardware, software, etc. of femto network 120 and/ormacro network 130.

A mobile wireless device served by macro network 130, and operated by asubscriber within a femto coverage area of femto network 120, cancommunicate with the core network of macro network 130 via one or morefemtocells, or femto access points (APs) (not shown), and/or one or moremacrocell access points. The mobile wireless device can register with afemto AP and communication, e.g., voice and/or data traffic, can berouted to the subscriber through the femto AP utilizing a femto basedwireless protocol, e.g., based on a licensed or unlicensed radiospectrum. The femto AP can employ a backhaul network (not shown), e.g.,broadband wired or wireless network backbone, to route packetcommunication, e.g., voice traffic, data traffic, data, etc. to the corenetwork of macro network 130.

Example embodiments can optimize tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. offemtocells included within a sector of a macrocell. For example, FeNOM110 can centrally optimize femtocells, e.g., within femto network 120and/or macro network 130, by grouping such femtocells into groups, orcategories, and directing a change of a parameter to femtocell(s) of agroup of groups.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless environment 200 that includes FeNOM 110,in accordance with an embodiment. Each macrocell 205 represents a“macro” cell coverage area, or sector, served by a base station 210. Itshould be appreciated that although macrocells 205 are illustrated asparallelograms, macrocells 205 can adopt other geometries, or polygons,e.g., dictated by spatial data, deployment, or topography of themacrocell coverage area (or covered geographic area), e.g., metropolitanstatistical area (MSA), rural statistical area (RSA), etc. Macrocellcoverage can serve mobile wireless devices, e.g., mobile wireless device220 _(A), mobile wireless device 220 _(B), etc. in outdoor locations. Anover-the-air wireless link 215 provides the macro coverage, and includesa downlink (DL) and an uplink (UL) (both not shown) that can utilize apredetermined band of radio frequency (RF) spectrum associated with,e.g., GSM, 3GPP UMTS, LTE™, etc. Accordingly, mobile wireless device 220_(A) can be a GSM, 3GPP UMTS, LTE™, etc. mobile phone, while 220 _(B)can be a remote computing device with GSM, 3GPP UMTS, LTE™, etc.capabilities.

Base station 210—including associated electronics, circuitry and/orcomponents—and wireless link 215 can form a radio network, e.g., basestation subsystem (BSS) associated with a GSM wireless network, or radioaccess network (RAN) associated with a UMTS wireless network. Inaddition, base station 210 can communicate with macro network platform208 via backhaul link(s) 251. Macro network platform 208 can represent acore network comprising one or more cellular wireless technologies,e.g., 3GPP UMTS, GSM, LTE™, etc. In one aspect, macro network platform208 can control a set of base stations 210 that serve either respectivecells or a number of sectors within such cells. Macro network platform208 can also communicate with other base stations (not shown) that serveother cells (not shown). Backhaul link(s) 251 can include a wiredbackbone link, e.g., optical fiber backbone, twisted-pair line, T1/E1phone line, synchronous or asynchronous digital subscriber line (DSL),asymmetric DSL (ADSL), coaxial cable, etc. Moreover, backhaul links(s)251 can link different or disparate base stations 210 based on macronetwork platform 208.

Packet communication, e.g., voice traffic, data traffic, can be routedthrough a broadband wired network backbone (or backhaul network)utilizing, e.g., optical fiber backbone, twisted-pair line, T1/E1 phoneline, synchronous or asynchronous digital subscriber line (DSL),asymmetric DSL (ADSL), coaxial cable, etc. To this end, base station 210can be connected to the backhaul network, e.g., service provider network255, via a broadband modem (not shown) and backhaul link(s) 251. Throughbackhaul link(s) 251, base station 210 can handle substantially anyquality of service (QoS) for heterogeneous packetized traffic, e.g.,various multiple packet flows.

Base station 210 can integrate into an existing network, e.g., GSMnetwork, 3GPP network, LTE™ network, etc. via various interfaces, forexample: via an A-bis interface (not shown) between a base transceiverstation (BTS) and a base station controller (BSC); via an Iub interface(not shown) between a radio network controller (RNC) and base station210; via an interface (not shown) between an RNC and a Circuit SwitchedCore Network (CS-CN); via an interface (not shown) between an RNC and anIu-CS interface; via an interface (not shown) between an RNC and aPacket Switched Core Network (or Iu-PS interface); via an interface (notshown) between a BSC and a mobile switching center (MSC) and/or NetworkSwitching Subsystem (NNS); via an interface (not shown) between aServing General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a publicdata network (PDN) (or Gi interface); via an interface (not shown)between an SGSN and other SGSNs (or Gn interface).

A group of femtocells 225, femto access points (APs) 230, etc. can bedeployed within each macro cell 205. While at least three femtocells 225are deployed per macro cell 205 as shown in FIG. 2, aspects of thesubject disclosure can be directed to femtocell deployments withsubstantive femto AP 230 density, e.g., tens of thousands of, femto APs230 per base station 210. As such, femtocell group 227 as illustrated inFIG. 2 includes more than 10⁴ femto APs 230 (not shown). Femtocell 225can cover an area (or coverage area) that includes confined area 245,which can be determined, at least in part, by transmission powerallocated to femto AP 230, path loss, shadowing, etc. While confinedarea 245 and the coverage area can coincide, it should be appreciatedthat in certain deployment scenarios, the coverage area can include anoutdoor portion, e.g., parking lot, patio deck, recreation area; whileconfined area 245 can be enclosed by a building, e.g., home, retailstore, business. The coverage area can span a coverage radius rangingfrom 20 to 100 meters. Confined area 245 can be associated with anindoor space and/or building, such as a residential space, e.g., house,condominium, apartment complex, etc.; business space, e.g., retailstore, mall, etc.; or public space, e.g., library, hospital, etc. Suchspaces can span, for example, 5000 sq. ft or larger.

Femto AP 230 can serve a few (e.g., 1-64) wireless devices, e.g., UE 220_(A) and subscriber station 220 _(B), within coverage areas associatedwith respective femtocells 225—each wireless device coupled to femto AP230 via a wireless link 235 that comprises a downlink and an uplink(depicted as arrows in FIG. 2). A femto network platform 209 can controlsuch service(s), in addition to registering at least one femto AP 230,provisioning parameters in the at least one femto AP 230, managingmacro-to-femto handover, and/or managing femto-to-macro handover.Control or management can be facilitated by access point backhaullink(s) 253 that connect deployed femto APs 230 with femto networkplatform 209. Access point backhaul link(s) 253 are substantiallysimilar to backhaul link(s) 251.

Femto network platform 209 can also include components, e.g., nodes,gateways, interfaces, that facilitate packet-switched (PS), e.g.,internet protocol (IP), traffic and signal generation for networkedtelecommunication. It should be appreciated that femto network platform209 can integrate seamlessly with substantially any PS-based and/orcircuit switched (CS)-based network (such as macro network platform208). Thus, operation with a wireless device such as 220 _(A) can besubstantially seamless when handover from femto-to-macro, or vice versa,occurs.

As an example, femto AP 230 can integrate into an existing network,e.g., GSM, 3GPP, LTE™, etc. via various interfaces, for example: via anA-bis interface (not shown) between a base transceiver station (BTS) anda base station controller (BSC); via an Iub interface (not shown)between a radio network controller (RNC) and base station 210; via aninterface (not shown) between an RNC and a Circuit Switched Core Network(CS-CN); via an interface (not shown) between an RNC and an Iu-CSinterface; via an interface (not shown) between an RNC and a PacketSwitched Core Network (or Iu-PS interface); via an interface (not shown)between a BSC and a mobile switching center (MSC) and/or NetworkSwitching Subsystem (NNS); via an interface (not shown) between aServing General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a publicdata network (PDN) (or Gi interface); via an interface (not shown)between an SGSN and other SGSNs (or Gn interface).

It should be appreciated that although FeNOM 110 is illustrated by FIG.2 as an entity distinct from, e.g., macro network platform 208, femtonetwork platform 209, base stations 210, femtocells 225, femto APs 230,service provider network 225, etc. aspects and/or features of FeNOM 110can be located/included within and/or across one or more components,e.g., hardware, software, etc., of wireless network 200. For example, inone embodiment, aspects and/or features of FeNOM 110 can be locatedwithin any component(s) of a GSM, UMTS, or LTE™ core network, e.g.service provider network 255. In another embodiment, FeNOM 110 can belocated and/or integrated in/with hardware and/or software of macronetwork platform 208, femto network platform 209, base station 210,femtocells 225, femto APs 230, service provider network 225, etc.Moreover, it should be appreciated that features of embodimentsdescribed herein can be implemented in microcells, picocells, or thelike, wherein base station 210 can be embodied in an access point.

As described above, as increased amounts of femtocells are integratedinto a broader cellular network to improve wireless service capacityand/or coverage, example embodiments can adequately optimize femtocellsincluded within a sector of a macrocell. For example, FeNOM 110 cangroup femtocells, e.g., across multiple wireless network serviceproviders, across multiple frequency bands and/or communicationchannels, etc. into categories based on respective sorting criteria.Further, FeNOM 110 can optimize femtocell(s) of a category of thecategories by directing a change of a parameter set of the femtocell(s)to the femtocell(s).

FIG. 3 illustrates another wireless environment (300) for optimizingfemtocells in a centralized manner, in accordance with an embodiment.Wireless environment 300 can comprise one or more base stations 210, forexample: coupled to a BSC forming a base station system (BSS), coupledto an RNC forming a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), etc.Radio network 320 can couple to a core network, e.g., service providernetwork 255, via one or more backhaul links 251 (see above) tofacilitate wireless communication and data transfer to one or morewireless devices, e.g., mobile wireless device 220 _(A)/mobile wirelessdevice 220 _(B), in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. Radionetwork 320 can comprise any wireless technology, e.g., GSM, UMTS, LTE™,CDMA, etc.

Wireless environment 300 includes FeNOM 110 that can optimizefemtocells, e.g., femto AP 230, etc. by sorting the femtocells intocategories based on respective sorting criteria, e.g., associated withoperating conditions of the femtocells. Further, FeNOM 110 can change aparameter common to femtocells (e.g., a large number of femtocells)included in a category in a centralized manner. Furthermore, FeNOM 110can be used via any wireless technology implementing wireless accesspoints(s), e.g., GSM, 3GPP UMTS, LTE™, etc. Moreover, it should beappreciated that although FeNOM 110 is illustrated by FIG. 3 as anentity distinct from, e.g., radio network 320, service provider network255, etc. aspects and/or features of FeNOM 110 can be located/includedwithin and/or across one or more components, e.g., hardware, software,etc., of wireless environment 300, e.g., within or among hardware and/orsoftware of components of radio network 320 and/or service providernetwork 255.

Further, one or more aspects of wireless environment 300, and thewireless environments, networks, systems, apparatus, and processesexplained herein, can constitute machine-executable instructionsembodied within machine(s), e.g., embodied in one or more computerreadable mediums (or media) associated with one or more machines. Suchinstructions, when executed by the one or more machines, e.g.,computer(s), computing device(s), virtual machines(s), etc. can causethe machine(s) to perform operations described.

Additionally, the systems and processes can be embodied within hardware,such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like.Further, the order in which some or all of the process blocks appear ineach process should not be deemed limiting. Rather, it should beunderstood by a person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefitof the instant disclosure that some of the process blocks can beexecuted in a variety of orders not illustrated.

Now referring to FIG. 4, a FeNOM 110 including scanning component 410and optimization component 420 is illustrated, in accordance with anembodiment. Scanning component 410 can be configured to receiveinformation from femtocells indicating respective operating conditionsof the femtocells. In one aspect, the information can be received fromthe femtocells across multiple-wireless access providers,multiple-wireless technologies, multiple-wireless communicationchannels, etc. In another aspect, the information can indicate operatingcondition(s) associated with respective femtocells, e.g., indicatingwireless condition(s) associated with macrocell(s) communicativelycoupled to the femtocells.

In yet another aspect, the information can indicate a result of anetwork scan that is associated with at least one of the femtocells,e.g., indicating macrocells discovered by, or communicatively coupledto, such femtocell(s). For example, the result can indicate power levelsof respective signals associated with the macrocells, e.g., indicatingreceived signal code power (RSCP), received signal strength indication(RSSI), received signal strength (RxLev), etc. that is associated, forexample, with a wireless communication channel, e.g., a pilot channel,etc. In another example, the result can indicate a level of interferenceof a signal that is detected, received, etc. by the femtocell(s), e.g.,indicating an energy per chip to total power received (Ec/No).

Further, optimization component 420 can be configured to categorize thefemtocells into groups based on the information, for example, utilizinga sorting criteria, e.g., based on a first level of categorization. Inan aspect, a sorting criteria of the first level of categorization canbe based on an operating condition of the respective operatingconditions common among femtocells of a group of the groups. Forexample, the operating condition can indicate a received signal codepower that is associated with a communication channel utilized byfemtocell(s) of the group, a received signal strength indicator that isassociated with a signal that is received by the femtocell(s) of thegroup, a level of interference of a signal that is detected by thefemtocell(s) of the group, etc.

In another embodiment, optimization component 420 can be configured tofurther categorize the femtocells into the groups based on a secondlevel of categorization. In an aspect, a sorting criteria of the secondlevel of categorization can be based on information indicating ULmeasurements from UEs attached to the femtocells—the UEs reportingwireless condition(s), etc. that are associated with macrocell(s)extended past a detection range of respective femtocells communicativelycoupled to the UEs. In other embodiments, the second level ofcategorization can be based on information indication a number of UEscommunicatively coupled, or attached, to femtocell(s) of the group, aperiod of time associated with busy/non-busy hour(s) of thefemtocell(s), time(s) associated with a higher/lower use ofcommunication bandwidth associated with the femtocell(s) compared toother time(s), allocation of the femtocell(s), a number ofnon-whitelisted UEs, or UEs not authorized to access a femtocell, whichattempted to register with the femtocell(s), etc.

Furthermore, optimization component 420 can be configured to direct achange of a parameter set of a group of the groups to a femto cell ofthe group. In an aspect, optimization component 420 can direct a changeof a transmission power of femtocell(s) of the group, direct a change ofa handover requirement of femtocell(s) of the group, etc. For example,automatic parameter optimization (APO) of the femtocell(s) of the groupcan be enhanced by centrally applying, via FeNOM 110, changes toparameters of “like femtocells” of a group matching a similar sortingcriteria. As such, FeNOM 110 can effectively optimize a large number of“like” femtocells across disparate wireless communication/networkenvironments.

For example, scanning component 410 can receive information fromfemtocells, e.g., a first portion of the femtocells located on the westcoast of the United States and a second portion of the femtocellslocated on the east coast of the United States, indicating thefemtocells are associated with a large number of attempted attachmentsby non-whitelisted UEs. Further, optimization component 420 cancategorize the femtocells into a group, e.g., indicating femtocellsassociated with the large number of attempted attachments. Furthermore,optimization component 420 can direct a change of transmission power tofemtocells of the group, e.g., to reduce attachment attempts made byrespective non-whitelisted UEs. As such, FeNOM 110 can centrallyoptimize a large number of femtocells across disparate wireless networkenvironments for improving wireless customer experience(s).

In one embodiment, optimization component 420 can direct a change of ahand-out/hand-in/handover criterion based on a threshold value, ahysteresis value, a time-based criterion, etc. For example, optimizationcomponent 420 can direct a handover from a femtocell to a macrocell inresponse to a difference between a first signal quality associated withthe macrocell and a second signal quality associated with the femtocellbeing greater than or equal to a threshold value. In another example,optimization component 420 can direct the handover by utilizinghysteresis values to account for noise associated with signal qualitymeasurements. As such, optimization component 420 can direct thehandover in response to signal quality levels being reduced, ordetected, within the hysteresis values, or range. In yet anotherexample, optimization component 420 can utilize a timer to direct thehandover, for example, directing the handover in response to a signalquality level meeting, being detected at, etc. a predetermined criteriafor a predetermined period of time.

In one aspect, optimization component 420 can direct a change ofrespective femto neighbor lists associated with the femtocells of thegroup, reprioritize the respective femto neighbor lists, direct a changeof handoff parameters, e.g., associated with performance of a handoffbetween a femtocell and a macrocell communicatively coupled to thefemtocell, etc. For example, scanning component 410 can receive firstinformation from femtocells indicating a first handover failure rate,e.g., over twenty-four hours. Further, optimization component 420 cangroup femtocells having the first handover failure rate into a firstcategory based on a first level of categorization. Furthermore,optimization component 420 can further group femtocells of the firstcategory into a second category based on a signal strength correspondingto a first detected neighbor, e.g., macrocell corresponding to a highestdetected signal strength. In an aspect, optimization component 420 candirect a change of an operating parameter of femtocells of the secondcategory, e.g., re-prioritizing respective neighbor lists of thefemtocells of the second category to initially prefer, favor, etc.selection of the macrocell corresponding to the highest detected signalstrength in response to a handover.

In an embodiment illustrated by FIG. 5, optimization component 420 caninclude a macrocell component 510 communicatively coupled tomacrocell(s), e.g., macrocell 205. Macrocell component 510 can beconfigured to direct a change of an operating parameter of macrocell205, which is communicatively coupled to one or more femtocells, basedon an operating condition of the femtocells. For example, the operatingcondition of the femtocells can be associated with a particular level ofinterference between respective signals transmitted by the femtocellsand signal(s) transmitted by macrocell 205. In an aspect, optimizationcomponent 420 can determine in-building penetration and/or pilotpollution associated with the signal(s) transmitted by macrocell 205,e.g., based on a particular decibel level of difference betweensignal(s) transmitted by the femtocells and the signal(s) transmitted bymacrocell 205/detected by the femtocells.

Further, based on a level of interference evaluated by optimizationcomponent 420, macrocell component 510 can direct, to macrocell 205, achange of a direction of propagation of the signal(s) transmitted bymacrocell 205, e.g., controlled via a tilt of an antenna of macrocell510, a change of (e.g., reducing) transmission power associated with thesignal(s) transmitted by macrocell 205, etc. As such, macrocellcomponent 510 can effectively perform coverage capacity optimization(CCO) in a centralized manner.

In another embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6, FeNOM 110 can includefeedback component 610 communicatively coupled to one or more femtocellsof femtocells 620, e.g., femtocell 230, etc. Feedback component 610 canbe configured to direct an other change of the parameter set of thegroup of the groups to a femtocell of femtocells 620 based on otherinformation that is received from the femtocell, e.g., via a feedbackloop. In one embodiment, and referring to the example above, in responseto scanning component 410 receiving second information from thefemtocells indicating a second handover failure rate, feedback component620 can direct, e.g., via optimization component 420, re-prioritizationof the respective neighbor lists of the femtocells of the secondcategory to such femtocells.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate methodologies in accordance with the disclosedsubject matter. For simplicity of explanation, the methodologies aredepicted and described as a series of acts. It is to be understood andappreciated that embodiments described herein are not limited by theacts illustrated and/or by the order of acts. For example, acts canoccur in various orders and/or concurrently, and with other acts notpresented or described herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts maybe required to implement the methodologies in accordance with thedisclosed subject matter. In addition, those skilled in the art willunderstand and appreciate that the methodologies could alternatively berepresented as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram orevents. Additionally, it should be further appreciated that themethodologies disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specificationare capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitatetransporting and transferring such methodologies to computers. The termarticle of manufacture, as used herein, can encompass a computer programaccessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a process 700 associated with FeNOM 110 isillustrated, in accordance with an embodiment. At 710, process 700 canreceive, from femtocells, information associated with respectiveoperating conditions of the femtocells. In an aspect, the informationcan indicate a result of a network scan that is associated with at leastone of the femtocells, e.g., indicating macrocells discovered by, orcommunicatively coupled to, such femtocell(s), indicating power levelsof respective signals associated with the macrocells (e.g., RSCP, RSSI,RxLev, etc.), indicating a level of interference of a signal that isdetected, received, etc. by the femtocell(s), e.g., indicating an energyper chip to total power received (Ec/No), etc.

At 720, the femtocells can be sorted, categorized, etc. into groupsbased on the information. At 730, a change of a parameter set that isassociated with a group of the groups can be remotely directed, e.g.,via a wireless and/or a wired communication protocol, to a femtocell ofthe group.

FIGS. 8-9 illustrate processes (800 and 900) associated with FeNOM 110,in accordance with various embodiments. At 810, first information thatis associated with respective operating conditions of femtocells can bereceived from the femtocells. At 820, the femtocells can be sorted intogroups based on the first information. At 830, a first change of aparameter set that is associated with a group of the groups can bedirected to a femtocell of the group. At 840, second information that isassociated with the respective operating conditions can be received fromthe femtocells.

Flow continues from 840 to 910, at which process 900 can determinewhether a change of the parameter set can be made, e.g., for adjustingperformance that is associated with the femtocell of the femtocell ofthe group, e.g., based on an improvement/degradation in performance thatis indicated by the second information, etc. If it is determined thechange can be made, flow continues to 910, at which a second change ofthe parameter set can be directed to the femtocell of the group;otherwise process 900 ends.

To provide further context for various aspects of the disclosed subjectmatter, FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate, respectively, a block diagram of anembodiment 1000 of a femtocell access point 1005 that can enable orexploit features and/or aspects of the disclosed subject matter; and awireless network environment 1100 that includes femto and macro networkplatforms, which can enable aspects or features of a mobile networkplatform as described herein, and utilize femto APs that exploit variousaspects of the subject specification. In embodiment 1000, femto AP 1005can receive and transmit signal(s) from and to wireless devices, e.g.,UEs, access terminals, wireless ports and routers, or the like, througha set of antennas 1020 ₁-1020 _(N) (N is a positive integer). Antennas1020 ₁-1020 _(N) are a part of communication platform 1015, whichcomprises electronic components and associated circuitry that providesfor processing and manipulation of received signal(s) and signal(s) tobe transmitted.

In an aspect, communication platform 1015 includes areceiver/transmitter 1016 that can convert analog signals to digitalsignals upon reception of the analog signals, and convert digitalsignals to analog signals upon transmission. In addition,receiver/transmitter 1016 can divide a single data stream into multiple,parallel data streams, or perform the reciprocal operation. Amultiplexer/demultiplexer 1017 can be coupled to receiver/transmitter1016, the multiplexer/demultiplexer 1017 facilitates manipulation ofsignal(s) in time and frequency space. Electronic component 1017 canmultiplex information (data/traffic and control/signaling) according tovarious multiplexing schemes such as time division multiplexing (TDM),frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), space divisionmultiplexing (SDM). In addition, mux/demux component 1017 can scrambleand spread information (e.g., codes) according to substantially any codeknown in the art, e.g., Hadamard-Walsh codes, Baker codes, Kasami codes,polyphase codes, etc. A modulator/demodulator 1018, which can also apart of communication platform 1015, can modulate information accordingto multiple modulation techniques, such as frequency modulation,amplitude modulation, e.g., M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM),with M a positive integer), phase-shift keying (PSK), etc.

Femto access point 1005 also includes a processor 1035 configured toconfer, at least in part, functionality to substantially any electroniccomponent in femto AP 1005. In particular, processor 1035 can facilitateconfiguration of femto AP 1005, e.g., via one or more components ofFeNOM 110. In one aspect, the one or more components of FeNOM 110 can beincluded in femto AP 1005. Additionally, femto AP 1005 can includedisplay interface 1012, which can display functions that controlfunctionality of femto AP 1005, or reveal operation conditions thereof.In addition, display interface 1012 can include a screen to conveyinformation to an end user. In an aspect, display interface 1012 can bea liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma panel, a monolithic thin-filmbased electrochromic display, and so on. Moreover, display interface canalso include a component, e.g., speaker that facilitates communicationof aural indicia, which can also be employed in connection with messagesthat convey operational instructions to an end user. Display interface1012 also facilitates data entry e.g., through a linked keypad or viatouch gestures, which can facilitated femto AP 1005 to receive externalcommands, e.g., restart operation.

Broadband network interface facilitates connection of femto AP 1005 tofemto network via access point backhaul link(s) 253 (not shown in FIG.10), which enable incoming and outgoing data flow. Broadband networkinterface 1014 can be internal or external to femto AP 1005, and it canutilize display interface 1012 for end-user interaction and statusinformation delivery, if so included.

Processor 1035 can be functionally connected to communication platform1015 and can facilitate operations on data, e.g., symbols, bits, orchips, for multiplexing/demultiplexing, such as effecting direct andinverse fast Fourier transforms, selection of modulation rates,selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times, etc. Moreover,processor 1035 can be functionally connected, via data, system, oraddress bus 1011, to display interface 1012 and broadband networkinterface 1014 to confer, at least in part functionality to each of suchcomponents.

In femto AP 1005, memory 1045 can retain location and/or home macrosector identifier(s); access list(s) that authorize access to wirelesscoverage through femto 1005; sector intelligence that includes rankingof macro sectors in the macro wireless environment of femto AP 1005,radio link quality and strength associated therewith, or the like.Memory 1045 also can store data structures, code instructions andprogram modules, system or device information, code sequences forscrambling, spreading and pilot transmission, femto AP floor planconfiguration, and so on. Processor 1035 can be coupled, e.g., via amemory bus, to memory 1045 in order to store and retrieve informationnecessary to operate and/or confer functionality to the components,platform, and interfaces that reside within femto access point 1005.

Now referring to FIG. 11, wireless communication environment 1100includes two wireless network platforms: (1) macro network platform 1110that serves, or facilitates communication with, user equipment (UE) 1175via a macro radio access network (RAN) 1170; and (2) femto networkplatform 1180, which can provide communication with UE 1175 through afemto RAN 1190, which can be linked to femto network platform 1180 viabackhaul pipe(s) 1185, e.g., access point backhaul link(s) 253.Moreover, wireless communication environment 1100 includes FeNOM 110. Itshould be appreciated that wireless communication environment 1100 caninclude aspects and/or components of embodiments discussed aboveregarding FeNOM 110. Moreover, such aspects and/or components can belocated/included within one or more components/elements, e.g., hardware,software, etc., of wireless communication environment 1100, e.g., macronetwork platform 1110, radio network 1190, and/or mobile device 1195.

It should also be appreciated that in cellular wireless technologies,e.g., 3GPP UMTS, HSPA, 3GPP LTE™, 4G LTE™, 3GPP2 UMB, GSM, etc., macronetwork platform 1110 can be embodied in a core network. It should alsobe appreciated that macro network platform 1110 can hand off UE 1175 tofemto network platform 1110 once UE 1175 attaches, e.g., throughmacro-to-femto handover, to femto RAN 1190, which includes a set ofdeployed femto APs, e.g., femto AP 230, which can operate in accordancewith aspects described herein.

RAN includes base station(s), or access point(s), and its associatedelectronic circuitry and deployment site(s), in addition to a wirelessradio link operated in accordance with the base station(s). Accordingly,macro RAN 1170 can comprise various coverage cells like macrocell 205,while femto RAN 1190 can comprise multiple femtocell access points suchas femto AP 230. Deployment density in femto RAN 1190 can besubstantially higher than in macro RAN 1170.

Both macro and femto network platforms 1110 and 1180 can includecomponents, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or platforms,that facilitate both packet-switched (PS), e.g., internet protocol (IP),frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and circuit-switched (CS)traffic, e.g., voice and data, and control generation for networkedwireless communication. In an aspect, macro network platform 1110includes CS gateway node(s) 1112 which can interface CS traffic receivedfrom legacy networks like telephony network(s) 1140, e.g., publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN),or a SS7 network 1160. Circuit switched gateway 1112 can authorize andauthenticate traffic, e.g., voice, arising from such networks.Additionally, CS gateway 1112 can access mobility, or roaming, datagenerated through SS7 network 1160; for instance, mobility data storedin a VLR, which can reside in memory 1130. Moreover, CS gateway node(s)1112 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling and gateway node(s) 1118.As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, PS gateway node(s) 1118 can beembodied in gateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN).

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, PS gateway node(s) 1118 can authorize and authenticatePS-based data sessions with served, e.g., through macro RAN, wirelessdevices. Data sessions can include traffic exchange with networksexternal to the macro network platform 1110, like wide area network(s)(WANs) 1150; enterprise networks (NWs) 1170, e.g., enhanced 911, orservice NW(s) 1180 like IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). It should beappreciated that local area network(s) (LANs), which can be a part ofenterprise NW(s), can also be interfaced with macro network platform1110 through PS gateway node(s) 1118. Packet-switched gateway node(s)1118 generates packet data contexts in response to a data session beingestablished. To that end, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 1118 caninclude a tunnel interface, e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in3GPP UMTS network(s) (not shown), which can facilitate packetizedcommunication with disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Finetworks. It should be further appreciated that the packetizedcommunication can include multiple flows that can be generated throughserver(s) 1114. In 3GPP UMTS network(s), PS gateway node(s) 1118 (e.g.,GGSN) and tunnel interface (e.g., TTG) can comprise a packet datagateway (PDG).

Macro network platform 1110 also includes serving node(s) 1116 thatconvey the various packetized flows of information, or data streams,received through PS gateway node(s) 1118. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, serving node(s) can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s)(SGSN).

As indicated above, server(s) 1114 in macro network platform 1110 canexecute numerous applications, e.g., location services, online gaming,wireless banking, wireless device management, etc. that generatemultiple disparate packetized data streams or flows, and manage suchflows, e.g., schedule, queue, format. Such application(s), for examplecan include add-on features to standard services provided by macronetwork platform 1110. Data streams can be conveyed to PS gatewaynode(s) 1118 for authorization/authentication and initiation of a datasession, and to serving node(s) 1116 for communication thereafter.Server(s) 1114 can also effect security, e.g., implement one or morefirewalls, of macro network platform 1110 to ensure network's operationand data integrity in addition to authorization and authenticationprocedures that CS gateway node(s) 1112 and PS gateway node(s) 1118 canenact. Moreover, server(s) 1114 can provision services from externalnetwork(s), e.g., WAN 1150, or Global Positioning System (GPS)network(s), which can be a part of enterprise NW(s) 1180. Server(s) 1114can include one or more processors configured to confer at least in partthe functionality of macro network platform 1110. To that end, the oneor more processors can execute code instructions stored in memory 1130,for example.

In example wireless environment 1100, memory 1130 stores informationrelated to operation of macro network platform 1110. Information caninclude business data associated with subscribers; market plans andstrategies, e.g., promotional campaigns, business partnerships;operational data for mobile devices served through macro networkplatform; service and privacy policies; end-user service logs for lawenforcement; and so forth. Memory 1130 can also store information fromat least one of telephony network(s) 1140, WAN 1150, SS7 network 1160,enterprise NW(s) 1170, or service NW(s) 1180.

Regarding femto network platform 1180, it can include femto gatewaynode(s) 1184, which have substantially the same functionality as PSgateway node(s) 1118. Additionally, femto gateway node(s) 1184 can alsoinclude substantially all functionality of serving node(s) 1116.Disparate gateway node(s) 1184 can control or operate disparate sets ofdeployed femto APs, which can be a part of femto RAN 1190. In an aspect,femto gateway node(s) 1184 can aggregate operational data received fromdeployed femto APs.

Memory 1186 can retain additional information relevant to operation ofthe various components of femto network platform 1180. For example,operational information that can be stored in memory 1186 can comprise,but is not limited to, subscriber intelligence; contracted services;maintenance and service records; femtocell configuration, e.g., devicesserved through femto RAN 1190, authorized subscribers associated withone or more deployed femto APs; service policies and specifications;privacy policies; add-on features; so forth.

Server(s) 1182 have substantially the same functionality as described inconnection with server(s) 1114. In an aspect, server(s) 1182 can executemultiple application(s) that provide service, e.g., voice and data, towireless devices served through femto RAN 1190. Server(s) 1182 can alsoprovide security features to femto network platform. In addition,server(s) 1182 can manage, e.g., schedule, queue, format, substantiallyall packetized flows, e.g., IP-based, frame relay-based, ATM-based, itgenerates in addition to data received from macro network platform 1110.Furthermore, server(s) 1182 can effect provisioning of femtocellservice, and effect operations and maintenance. Server(s) 1182 caninclude one or more processors configured to provide at least in partthe functionality of femto network platform 1180. To that end, the oneor more processors can execute code instructions stored in memory 1186,for example.

As is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an ASIC, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), a programmable logic controller (PLC), a complexprogrammable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. Processors can exploitnano-scale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular andquantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimizespace usage or enhance performance of mobile wireless devices. Aprocessor can also be implemented as a combination of computingprocessing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store”, “data store”, “datastorage”, “database”, “storage medium”, and substantially any otherinformation storage component relevant to operation and functionality ofa component and/or process, refer to “memory components,” or entitiesembodied in a “memory,” or components comprising the memory. It will beappreciated that the memory components described herein can be eithervolatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory, forexample, which can be included in memory 1045, memory 1130, memory 1186,non-volatile memory 1222 (see below), disk storage 1224 (see below), andmemory storage 1246 (see below) can include read only memory (ROM),programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory caninclude random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory.By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can include forms such assynchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM),double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), SynchlinkDRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, thedisclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are intended tocomprise, without being limited to comprising, these and any othersuitable types of memory.

In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosedsubject matter, FIG. 12, and the following discussion, are intended toprovide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in whichthe various aspects of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented,e.g., various systems and/or processes associated with FIGS. 1-11. Whilethe subject matter has been described above in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on acomputer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize thatvarious aspects disclosed herein can be implemented in combination withother program modules. Program modules can include routines, programs,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/orimplement particular abstract data types.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventivesystems can be practiced with other computer system configurations,including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, watch),microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrial electronics,and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network;however, some if not all aspects of the subject disclosure can bepracticed on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules can be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 12, a block diagram of a computing system 1200operable to execute the disclosed systems and methods is illustrated, inaccordance with an embodiment. Computer 1212 includes a processing unit1214, a system memory 1216, and a system bus 1218. System bus 1218couples system components including, but not limited to, system memory1216 to processing unit 1214. Processing unit 1214 can be any of variousavailable processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessorarchitectures also can be employed as processing unit 1214.

System bus 1218 can be any of several types of bus structure(s)including a memory bus or a memory controller, a peripheral bus or anexternal bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available busarchitectures including, but not limited to, Industrial StandardArchitecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA(EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB),Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus(USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association bus (PCMCIA), Firewire (IEEE 1194), and SmallComputer Systems Interface (SCSI).

System memory 1216 includes volatile memory 1220 and nonvolatile memory1222. A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing routines totransfer information between elements within computer 1212, such asduring start-up, can be stored in nonvolatile memory 1222. By way ofillustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory 1222 can includeROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory. Volatile memory 1220 includesRAM, which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and notlimitation, RAM can include forms such as SRAM, dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhancedSDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), Rambus direct RAM (RDRAM),direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM).

Computer 1212 can also include removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media, networked attached storage(NAS), e.g., SAN storage, etc. FIG. 12 illustrates, for example, diskstorage 1224. Disk storage 1224 includes, but is not limited to, deviceslike a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, Jaz drive,Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, or memory stick. Inaddition, disk storage 1224 can include storage media separately or incombination with other storage media including, but not limited to, anoptical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device (CD-ROM), CDrecordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RW Drive) or adigital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitate connection ofthe disk storage devices 1224 to system bus 1218, a removable ornon-removable interface can be used, such as interface 1226.

FIG. 12 describes software that acts as an intermediary between usersand computer resources described in suitable operating environment 1200.Such software includes an operating system 1228. Operating system 1228,which can be stored on disk storage 1224, acts to control and allocateresources of computer 1212. System applications 1230 utilize themanagement of resources by operating system 1228 through program modules1232 and program data 1234 stored either in system memory 1216 or ondisk storage 1224. The disclosed subject matter can be implemented withvarious operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands or information into computer 1212 throughinput device(s) 1236. Input devices 1236 include, but are not limitedto, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad,keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TVtuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and thelike. These and other input devices connect to processing unit 1214through system bus 1218 via interface port(s) 1238. Interface port(s)1238 include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port,and a universal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1240 use some of thesame type of ports as input device(s) 1236.

Thus, for example, a USB port can be used to provide input to computer1212 and to output information from computer 1212 to an output device1240. Output devices 1240 like monitors, speakers, and printers, amongother output devices 1240, can use special adapters such as outputadapters 1242. Output adapters 1242 include, by way of illustration andnot limitation, video and sound cards that provide means of connectionbetween output device 1240 and system bus 1218. It should be noted thatother devices and/or systems of devices provide both input and outputcapabilities such as remote computer(s) 1244.

Computer 1212 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s)1244. Remote computer(s) 1244 can be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, apeer device, or other common network node and the like, and can includemany or all of the elements described relative to computer 1212.

For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1246 isillustrated with remote computer(s) 1244. Remote computer(s) 1244 can belogically connected to computer 1212 through a network interface 1248and then physically connected via communication connection 1250. Networkinterface 1248 encompasses wire and/or wireless communication networkssuch as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LANtechnologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), CopperDistributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like.WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links,circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks(ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and DigitalSubscriber Lines (DSL).

Communication connection(s) 1250 refer(s) to hardware/software employedto connect network interface 1248 to bus 1218. While communicationconnection 1250 is shown for illustrative clarity inside computer 1212,it can also be external to computer 1212. The hardware/software forconnection to network interface 1248 can include, for example, internaland external technologies such as modems, including regular telephonegrade modems, cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernetcards.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the subjectdisclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the preciseforms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are describedherein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possiblethat are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples,as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize.

In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been described inconnection with various embodiments and corresponding Figures, whereapplicable, other similar embodiments can be used or modifications andadditions can be made to the described embodiments for performing thesame, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosedsubject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosedsubject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment describedherein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope inaccordance with the appended claims below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a systemcomprising a processor, information from femtocell devices representingoperating conditions with respect to signals detected by the femtocelldevices, wherein an operating condition of the operating conditionscomprises a first number of mobile devices that have attempted toregister with a first femtocell device of the femtocell devices and thathave not been authorized to access the first femtocell device; inresponse to the first number of mobile devices being determined tosatisfy a defined condition with respect to a second number of mobiledevices that have attempted to register with a second femtocell deviceof the femtocell devices and that have not been authorized to access thesecond femtocell device, assigning, by the system, the first femtocelldevice and the second femtocell device to a group of femtocell devices;and in response to the assigning of the first femtocell device and thesecond femtocell device to the group of femtocell devices, directing, bythe system, a change of a parameter to the group of femtocell devices.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning comprises sorting thefemtocell devices into groups comprising the group of femtocell devices.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing, by the system, amacrocell parameter change of a macrocell parameter of a macrocelldevice associated with the group of femtocell devices.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first femtocell device is associated with a firstwireless communication environment and the second femtocell device isassociated with a second wireless communication environment differentthan the first wireless communication environment.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the directing comprises directing a power change of atransmission power to the group of femtocell devices.
 6. A system,comprising: a memory that stores executable instructions; and aprocessor, coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of theexecutable instructions to perform operations, comprising: receiving,from femto cell devices, information representing operating conditionswith respect to signals detected by the femtocell devices, wherein anoperating condition of the operating conditions comprises a first numberof mobile devices that have attempted to register with a first femtocelldevice of the femtocell devices and that have not been authorized toaccess the first femtocell device; in response to the first number ofmobile devices being determined to satisfy a defined condition withrespect to a second number of mobile devices that have attempted toregister with a second femtocell device of the femtocell devices andthat have not been authorized to access the second femtocell device,categorizing the first femtocell device and the second femtocell deviceinto a group of femtocell devices; and in response to the categorizingof the first femtocell device and the second femtocell device into thegroup of femtocell devices, directing a change of a parameter to thegroup of femtocell devices.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theinformation represents a result of a network scan that is associatedwith the femtocell devices.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the resultof the network scan is associated with a macrocell device correspondingto the femtocell devices.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein theinformation represents a strength of a signal that is detected by afemtocell device of the femtocell devices.
 10. The system of claim 6,wherein the information represents a detected power that is associatedwith a communication channel.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein theinformation represents a received signal strength indicator that isassociated with a signal that is received by a femtocell device of thefemtocell devices.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein the informationrepresents a level of interference of a signal that is detected by afemtocell device of the femtocell devices.
 13. The system of claim 6,wherein the information represents a period of time associated with ause of a femtocell device of the femtocell devices.
 14. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the parameter comprises a transmission power.
 15. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise directing ahandover change of a handover to a femtocell device of the group offemtocell devices.
 16. The system of claim 6, wherein the operationsfurther comprise directing a parameter change of an operating parameterof a macrocell device to the macrocell device based on the information.17. The system of claim 6, wherein the first femtocell device isassociated with a first wireless communication environment, and whereinthe second femtocell device is associated with a second wirelesscommunication environment different than the first wirelesscommunication environment.
 18. The system of claim 6, wherein theparameter comprises a wireless communication channel.
 19. Acomputer-readable storage device comprising executable instructionsthat, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor toperform operations, comprising: in response to receiving, from femtocelldevices, information representing operating conditions of the femtocelldevices with respect to signals detected by the femtocell devices,determining whether an operating condition of the operating conditionssatisfies a defined condition with respect to a first amount of mobiledevices that have attempted to register with a first femtocell device ofthe femtocell devices and that have not been authorized to access thefirst femtocell device, and with respect to a second amount of mobiledevices that have attempted to register with a second femtocell deviceof the femtocell devices and that have not been authorized to access thesecond femtocell device; in response to determining that the operatingcondition satisfies the defined condition with respect to the firstamount of mobile devices that have attempted to register with the firstfemtocell device and that have not been authorized to access the firstfemtocell device, and with respect to the second amount of mobiledevices that have attempted to register with the second femtocell deviceand that have not been authorized to access the second femtocell device,categorizing the first femtocell device and the second femtocell deviceinto a group of femtocell devices; and in response to the categorizingof the first femtocell device and the second femto cell device,directing, to the group of femtocell devices, a change of a parameter.20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein thecategorizing comprises categorizing the first femtocell device and thesecond femtocell device into the group of femtocell devices based on aquality of a signal of the signals.